Meat, eggs help drive the highest grocery prices in more than 40 years

Perhaps good news for store brands that are offered at more of a value than their national brand counterparts, the U.S. Department of Labor reported that prices of groceries in the U.S. were up 2.6% last month, the highest increase for a month in decades.

Meat and egg products were driving much of the overall grocery costs, with shortages of meat and the perishable nature of the products putting a strain on the sectors during the coronavirus pandemic. The categories saw a jump in prices by 4.3%. Cereal and bakery items increased by nearly 3%; fruit and vegetable prices increased by about 1.6%.

Per the Department of Labor, the April increase is the highest since February 1974. To see more analysis on the numbers, go to this article in sister publication Progressive Grocer.